Bhubaneswar: The need for developing indigenous technology to fuel industrial and economic growth in the country was stressed at the two-day 2nd Technology Conclave organised by the Indian National Academy of Engineering (INAE), the apex body of engineers in the country, which commenced at the SOA Deemed to be University here on Saturday.
“We don’t have any indigenous technology for steel making in India and all steel plants run on borrowed technology. We need intense research to get our own technology to reduce pollution in steel making,” Dr. Ashok Kumar Panda, Chairman and Managing Director of Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL), who was the chief guest at the inaugural function of the event, said.
Dr. Panda said there was a need for academics, technocrats and the industry to come together to find ways to reduce pollution as steel making is a highly polluting process. “The reduction of carbon dioxide emission in the blast furnaces has been posing a lot of challenge and we have been deliberating on ways to reduce this,” he said adding improved technology would cause less pollution.
He said that hydrogen could replace the use of coke in steel making as India aimed to enhance its steel production from the present level of 160 million tons per annum to about 300 million tons within the next four to five years to meet the growing requirement of steel.
SAIL, which runs five major steel plants, has been expanding its capacity while trying to implement digitalization and use AI to ensure safety of the workers, Dr. Panda said while saying that start-ups run by technocrats could support in up gradation of technology.
The program, which was presided over by INAE President Mr. J.D. Patil, was addressed by Prof. Indranil Manna, former INAE President and Vice-Chancellor of BITS, Mesra, Mr. Manoranjan Ram, Senior Vice-President, Danieli India and Prof. Damodar Acharya, Chairman of INAE’s Bhubaneswar Chapter and Chairman of SOA’s International Advisory Board. Prof. Pradipta Kumar Nanda, Vice-Chancellor of SOA Deemed to be University, delivered the welcome address while Prof. Subhranshu Ranjan Samantaray, Dean (Research), IIT Bhubaneswar and Secretary of INAE’s Bhubaneswar Chapter, proposed the vote of thanks.
Mr. Ram said not a single steel making indigenous technology was available in India as the country depended on technology transfer. “We must develop our own technology. We cannot be a developed nation without having our own technology,” he said.
“Massive public investment is needed to create new technology as India’s expenditure on research and development has been low. The need is to focus on basic engineering and designing,” he said.
Subjects like long-term energy security through distributed nuclear reactors, oil and gas exploration, coal gasification and critical mineral extraction, healthcare technology, transportation and logistics and next generation communications would figure prominently at the two-day conclave being attended by technocrats, engineering researchers, faculty and professionals. The conclave, which was organised for the first time at IIT Bombay last year, is the flagship program of the 40-year-old INAE.
“The objective of the conclave is to expose young engineering professionals to the emerging national problems in some critical areas and find solutions for the same. Besides, it will encourage start-ups and entrepreneurs to showcase their initiatives in problem solving,” Prof. Acharya said.
The important plenary talks at the conclave would include ‘Nuclear energy with distributed small and medium size reactors’ by Mr. Bhuban Chandra Pathak, former Chairman and Managing Director of Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL), ‘Oil and Gas Exploration’ by Dr. Ranjit Rath, Chairman and Managing Director of Oil India Ltd, ‘Next Gen Communications’ by Prof. U.B. Desai, Chancellor, Anurag University and Founding Director, IIT Hyderabad and ‘Coal gasification, fertilizer and coal based chemicals’ by Prof. G.D. Yadav of Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai.
There will also be plenary talks on ‘Semi Conductor Technologies’ by Prof. Shanthi Pavan, Professor at IIT Madras and ‘Critical Mineral and Rare Earth’ by Dr. Rabi Narayan Patra, former Chairman and Managing Director of Indian Rare Earths Ltd (IREL). The event will also have panel discussions on transportation and logistics, healthcare technologies and reduction and diversification in energy intensive industries.
The distinguished speakers will also include Prof. Abhay Karandikar, Member, Niti Aayog, Dr. Binay Kumar Das, Director General, Electronics and Communication System, DRDO and Mr. Vishal Dev, Additional Chief Secretary, E and IT Department, Government of Odisha.